Photo: US Army / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Hugh Thompson Jr. is the kind of figure I wish more people knew by name. His chestful of medals is impressive, but what moves me is the single decision behind them: landing his helicopter at My Lai and turning his guns on his own countrymen to protect Vietnamese villagers. That is not heroism of the loud, cinematic sort. It is the quiet, terrifying courage to say no when everyone around you has said yes. He was shunned for years before being honored. To me, Thompson is proof that conscience, exercised in the worst possible moment, is the rarest and most valuable thing a human can carry.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Hugh Thompson Jr.
- Name (Japanese)
- ヒュー・トンプソン (軍人)
- Reading
- ひゅー・とんぷそん (軍人)
- Born
- April 15, 1943 – January 6, 2006
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Goat
- Origin
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- military aviator / helicopter pilot
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Stone Mountain High School
- University
- Troy University
Awards & achievements
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- 1998 Soldier's Medal
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
- Air Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Vietnam Campaign Medal
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh%20Thompson%20Jr.
Frequently asked questions
When was Hugh Thompson Jr. born?
April 15, 1943 – January 6, 2006.
Where is Hugh Thompson Jr. from?
Hugh Thompson Jr. is from Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
What does Hugh Thompson Jr. do?
Hugh Thompson Jr. works as military aviator, helicopter pilot.
More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.